A/N: And I'm back with another chapter! Took an entire day to write this one down, it took sometime but I think I got there. Now, we offical begin the Darkness Rising arc of TFP! Lets get started!

Chapter 4-The Butterfly Effect

I walked down the Autobot base home, towards the main hall. I had received a Comm as soon as I had awakened from my recharge. We were low on Energon, dangerously so. Optimus ordered us up and ready by a certain time and as I arrived on the allotted time everyone else had already gathered.

Optimus noticing my entry began to speak, "Since we are devastatingly low on Energon we must divide and conquer to find new pockets. Even though the Decepticons have been quiet for sometime, that doesn't mean that they are not a threat, so, keep you're comm's open at all times."

Ratchet than directed everyone's attention to a map on the computer, "Everyone is taking a section of North America, but Arcee will be scouting in the nearby area, so you can go ahead and begin your patrol."

She nodded and transformed, heading outside the base via tunnel.

"Optimus, I'm sending you to the far west coast," Ratchet said before turning to the controls and activating the bridge, with a curtly nod he transformed and hurried through the bridge.

He then looked to Cliffjumper, he sent him to the Midwest. Bee went to the Northeast and Bulkhead was sent to the Deep South. Finally it came to me.

"Bulletta, I am sending you to Latin America, will you be alright on your own?" He asked.

I smiled, "I'll be fine, Ratchet, you have my word."

He smiled and nodded, opening the bridge once more to the new location. I transformed into my Jeep form and sped through to appearing in a new location I've never seen before.

It was a dense jungle, with untamed growth everywhere. The sun was hot but the moisture in the air caused the heat to feel...icky. I was on a dirt road, with no signs of humans or civilization anywhere. Looking into my Atheneum, it showed a map of Latin America and pinpointed my location somewhere deep within Amazon in the part controlled by Brazil.

"Finally, some peace and quiet." I sighed to myself before setting off deeper into the jungle, looking for Energon signals.

An hour later…

At some point I knew the road would end, as it became more rough by the passing second. Resigning myself to transform I stood to my full height, my helm not nearly tall enough to pierce the thick canopy above me.

"Welp, guess I'm walking…" I said to myself.

I must admit, I hate being alone. Yeah, it's nice to have a little quiet sometimes, I still don't like long periods. I like talking, especially to someone who is willing to listen, I could ramble on for hours, but I guess people also find that annoying. I know some of my fellow Iounians felt that way too ...maybe that's why my team abandoned me to my death….

I shook my helm, I couldn't and shouldn't think that.

Besides, that's in the past now and I have a second chance to change all of that. After all, why not just complete a mission when you can make new friends along the way too, right?

I groaned to myself again, I hate, HATE, being alone with my thoughts, especially when they go to dark stuff like that.

"I never like being alone either, kid." A voice snapped me from my endless wandering, I had unintentionally stepped into a small clearing. The canopy above stretched unnatural to cover the entire clearing which was strange. The flowers and plants here seemed unnatural, with vibrant blues and an assortment of other colors as well.

Sitting at the center, stoking a flame of blue fire while drinking something was the familiar sight of Alchemist Prime, his strange glasses staring at me.

"O-Oh...sorry, didn't mean to intrude." I said to the ancient Prime, who simply laughed it off.

"Ah, no need for that. Come, I have something to discuss with you."

Curious as ever I came closer to the blue fire and sat adjacent to him, "Does it have something to do with the mission?" I asked, hoping to get ahead a little in understanding the call as it were.

"Look, things are about to kick off, kid. And how it ends will not be pretty, at least for one person…" He trailed off, drinking his bottle before saying, "All I am here is to warn you, that starting today everything must be taken with caution."

I stared at him with a frown, "And this person? What is going to happen?"

He sighed, "I can't tell you, kid, at least not yet. I am merely warning you to be on your guard. But as well, you need to solidify you're place here among the Autobots, the outcome depends on this."

I nodded, "I will."

"Good girl, now get going, it's about to start." I sat up, and walked away from the Prime and his clearing, as soon as I stopped out I looked back to see nothing but dense jungle.

I was about to speculate how it was possible my Comm beeped to life.

"Optimus to Bulletta, we have a situation, it seems Cliffjumper is need of back up." The Prime's voice buzzed with a hint of worry.

"Sending coordinates now, sir." I decided to add the title at the end, for some reason.

Anyways, I sent my location and a groundbridge appeared before me, I ran through to the base on the other side, where everyone was gathered, Arcee pacing with a hard look on her face.

"Ratchet, open the groundbridge." Optimus commanded, immediately the bridge was reopened and we all transformed and went through, I was following close behind Bumblebee and I was followed by the Prime.

As soon as I burst from the portal I was in the air for a moment before transforming and landing hard next to Bumblebee with Betrayer, the rifle, pointed up looking for any signs of danger. Optimus then landed in front of us all weapons out like the rest of us.

There was an eerie silence in front of us, a large smoldering crater was that there was no sign of Cliffjumper or what I assume to be the Decepticons.

"An untapped energon deposit." Optimus surmised everyone's thoughts.

Bulkhead huffed, "What's left of it."

Ratchet almost growled, "The first Deception activity in three years."

"That we know of." Optimus theorized, "If they're scouting for energon, they may be preparing for his return."

I knew he referred to Megatron, this leader of the Decepticons really does not have the best picture painted for him, but since he is the enemy no one really paints him in a light picture.

"Come on, let's search for clues." I said, finally putting my rifle back in its place. We scattered, looking around the deep crater, Arcee and myself jumping down the sides to get the lay of the land at the bottom.

Suddenly I heard Arcee gasp, she turned to everyone who now gathered at the bottom, holding a broken horn in her servo.

Optimus looked to the medic, "Ratchet, can you track his position?"

"No, Cliffjumper's life signal just went offline."

We stood on a cliff side, a pile of rocks placed in front of us, a grave marker for Cybertronians. It had been a couple of hours since we lost Cliffjumper, I couldn't believe this is what Alchemist meant. Heck, I didn't even get to know him properly, which I know regret.

Optimus began to speak, as Arcee went to place his horn down, "We must not allow our anger over the lost of Cliffjumper to impair our judgement. As of today, only we six Autobots remain on this Earth. We owe it to ourselves to the memory of Cybertron, to any Autobots in any Galaxies seeking safe harbor, to humankind. And we owe it to the memory of our fallen comrade to survive." Arcee began to walk away from the group, "Arcee…" he called.

Arcee said coldly, "If Cliff's gone, standing around here sulking won't bring him back. So unless anyone minds I think I'll get back to protecting humankind." And with that she transformed and rode off in the direction of Jasper, Nevada.

Optimus and Ratchet began to speak but I didn't listen. I transformed and followed at a distance, wanting to comfort and grow closer with the two-wheeler.

As I followed her I realized something, Optimus said six...six Autobots...does he already consider me one already? Or was that just a slip of the glossa? Was that easier to say than 'five Autobots and one Neutral'?

I filed that thought for a later time as I entered the small town, a few car lengths away from Arcee, but then suddenly two identical cars came in between us. I recognized them even if I hadn't ever seen them, Decepticons.

Arcee, also realizing this, pulled onto a parking lot of a restaurant and dismissed her holoform...wait she has a holoform?! Why didn't I noticed that earlier, COME ON, get it together girl!

I followed Arcee into the parking lot and parked next to her, my Comm hissed to life as her voice came through.

"What are you doing here?!" She demanded, I settled on my axels slightly.

I responded slowly, "I...was worried about you."

She scoffed, "Really? I find that hard to believe."

"Arcee, I know you don't like me. But, I want to be straight with you, I have never had any intention of hurting you...and I'm sorry...for anything I did intentionally and unintentionally."

There was silence for a moment, I didn't know if I got through to her.

"...You really sound like him…" She said quietly, I knew what she meant.

I sunk even lower, "...I'm sorry, Arcee. But if you don't want to be friends because I...somehow cause you pain then I understand."

"No, no. Cliff told me I shouldn't compare you to him...so, for Cliff's sake I won't. It's just…" She sighed, I smiled a little.

"It's hard losing someone we care for...I know the feeling…"

Arcee swiveled her tire a little, "Right, right." If she had more to say it was cut off by a teenage human boy exiting the building with a device to his ear.

"Hey, mom, I just got off... No, I'm not going to the dance... Experience suggests I should never cut a rug. Unless I'm installing carpet... Be careful? Seriously? This is a Jasper..." He stopped mid-sentence when his eyes landed on Arcee, it seemed like he almost started drooling.

"I love you…." He started before quickly saying, "I love you too, mom, I got run. Hello, beautiful. Where have you been all my life?" He ran his fingers up and down her leather, I had to stifle a little laugh when he climbed onto her.

"It may take a few K.O. paychecks, But I am gonna own a ride like you someday." He said mostly to himself, and I cut the Comm so I could silently snicker to myself.

Suddenly a girl's voice called out, "Are you talking to your motorcycle?"

I looked to see the same redhead girl with one of her friends beside her, I remembered her from the school I passed before, and became really invested in the dialogue between the two teens.

Jack looked surprised and nervous suddenly, "My motorcycle? No, I mean, yes, yes! It's mine, but I-I'm not talking-it was to you I-I am. How's things, Sierra? Take you for a spin sometime?" So, Sierra was her name? Pretty name.

Arcee lowly whispered, "Come on, smooth operator, wrap it up."

Sierra looked at the boy with surprise, "You know my name?"

He responded quickly, "We are in homeroom together. I'm Jack, Jack Darby."

Suddenly I heard screeching of tires and looked through my mirrors to see the twins from earlier shining there lights on us.

Arcee cursed, "Scrap." She then revved with Jack on top of her before shouting. "Do not let go!"

Jack screamed, "Who said that?"

As Arcee skidded between the two twins she sped off, I shook out of my shock and revved my engines, realizing that one had stayed behind with an intention at Sierra who stood in shock while her friend bolted.

Seeing what he was after I opened my passenger door and yelled, "Get in!"

She jumped in as soon as the car went to ram me, with the door closed I sped around him, heading for the main highway out of the town, dodging the fire that was now coming from the lone twin.

"Wh-What's going-WAIT, WHERE'S THE DRIVER!?" She screamed loudly realizing no one was driving me, I sighed as my audios rang from that and quickly fastened her to the chair with several straps.

She screamed again but this time I shouted back, "Would you stop that, my ears are very sensitive!" I used human terminology to make my point and she stopped, staring wide eyed at the wheel and shifted and moved on it's own.

"Who are you!? Whose he? What's going on!?" She asked as I swerved to avoid another blast.

"Not enough time to explain, so just hang on tight alright!?" She simply nodded and had a death grip on my seat, which were surprisingly sensitive and very painful, but I ignored it for now as I could see I was heading to an overpass with a gorge below us ahead.

Arcee came to ride beside me as we barreled down the empty highway, with Jack still remaining on top.

Sierra stared at my window towards Jack and asked, "The bike is alive too?"

"Yes, and so is that Urban." I said with a smirk as Bee joined us on the highway, slamming into the twins to dissuade them from fighting on.

Unfortunately it didn't last long as Bee was knocked away from the twins using pack tactics who were now gaining. Sierra saw them in the rearview mirror and her green eyes widened.

"What now?!" She asked, I looked to Arcee who ramp up her speed, heading for an unfinished section of the road.

Following the leader, I fell in behind Arcee as I increased the speed to keep up. I could hear Jack screaming and I knew Sierra wanted to but was now aware of my audios so she just held her death grip even harder...better than screaming.

She crashed through the warning signs and jumped before landing on a slant down to the gorge below, I followed suit, it was a rough landing but Sierra seemed okay still. We finally crested over the last edge and coming down hard on the concert bellow, Jack shakily getting off while Sierra clambered out of my passenger door.

Jack looked at Sierra in surprise, "They got you too?"

She nodded numbly before we heard something drop, looking over I saw a young boy with brown hair and glasses, staring wide eyed.

"Woah." He whispered, just as he did we saw the twins up on the edge, they came down and transformed into a battle stance.

Both me and Arcee transformed at the same time, glaring at the Cons.

Arcee shouted, "This ends here, Cons."

The two Cons brought out blasters and began to shoot, Arcee nimbly dodged them while I backed away pulling out Betrayer and aiming at the other while she went for the right one.

I started firing off my gun, a loud blast each time it fired, leave grey smoke billowing from the exhaust, each bullet either hitting him or nearly missing as he dodged and weaved, I tired to move to his movements but the more time passes the more it seemed like he was getting closer.

I heard Arcee shout, "This is for Cliff!" but I focused on my target instead.

I decided to plant myself instead of moving and gritting my denta as his blast now hit more often I fired on shot, straight for his arm. The arm exploded and the limb went limp as he lost one blaster, the Trick Shot working like a charm.

He growled, transforming his other blaster away and charging me.

Suddenly he was too close to use my rifle as intended and before I could switch he was set upon me, he knocked my rifle out of my hands and it scattered to the ground, then he kicked me in the chassis, sending me back a little.

Using my usual talent, I quickly drew the Veracity, the pistol, and fired and volley at him. He dodged each bullet to my surprise before he leaped at me again, but now ready, I roundhouse kicked him back and shot directly into his shoulder, he screamed in agony before grunting.

Transforming his one good arm into a blade he came at me, I fired, but all it did was click….it was jammed! He saw the opening and pierced into my shooting arm, I howled as I was pushed to the ground, he ripped the blade from my shoulder, I could feel the Energon.

I heard Arcee cry out as she was pushed back from her foe, clearly dazed, with the Con pulling his blaster at her.

Realizing we were pinned, I waited for the Con to slash down.

Then, I heard a rev of a familiar engine as diving down from the highway came Bumblebee, who landed between me and Arcee, first punching my would be killer off of me before turning and blasting the other Con away from Arcee.

I stood and said, "My savior…" He seemed to tense slightly at the joke before going back to his fighting stance.

I turned back to my enemy who shook his helm and stood back up but before he could I slammed down hard on him, pinning him to the ground. Taking my pistol I turned it around and using the butt of the gun slammed it hard against the helm, knocking him into a loop of dizziness.

Standing I turned only to hear, "Leave him alone!" I looked to see the young boy screaming at the other Con, who now had his attention on them, "Please?" He squeaked.

Jack screamed, "Bad call. Come on!"

With the Con behind me regaining semblance of cohesion and the other darting towards the kids I took off running, realizing both Bee and Arcee were out of it, trying to get up. Seeing as I was the only one who could do this, I pushed myself harder as I could to see the Con reach into the pipe the kids were trying to escape through.

I grabbed his shoulder and pulled his arm out, with no humans in it, before tossing him with the other.

I looked in to make sure they were okay, the young boy said, "Thanks."

I nodded before being distracted by the Cons getting to their feet. Bee and Arcee came to stand next to me with a battle stance. I heard another engine approaching, looking I could see that Bulkhead was approaching, I looked back to see the twins take off and down the gorge, out of sight.

Bulkhead transformed slamming his fists, "Who's ready to rumble?"

Arcee shook her head, "What took you?"

Bulkhead shrugged his shoulders, "Traffic."

"Liar." I commented, earning a grin from Arcee and a chuckle from Bee.

I sat on a berth while Ratchet repaired my shoulder among other things, while Arcee and the others told about what had happened after she and I had left.

Arcee finished the story, "And the Cons would have been scrap metal if I hadn't been distracted by the humans."

Optimus looked quizzically, "Humans?"

"Two boys and a girl." Arcee admitted, "I guess a third one caught us in action, I don't know. I was a little busy at the time."

Optimus gravely said, "If the Decepticons are targeting us, anyone perceived as our ally will be at grave risk. Arcee, Bulletta and Bumblebee, you'll retrieve the humans tomorrow and bring them here."

Arcee looked annoyed but said nothing, turning to head deeper into the base.

Ratchet turned from me with a groan, "Seriously, Optimus, is this necessary?"

The Prime turned to the medic, "Yes, and it is final." He then turned and walked out of the room.

Ratchet groaned and I patted him on the shoulder, "It's alright, maybe there not so bad?" He simply rolled his optics before sending me off the rest the patched wounds I had gotten.

But I couldn't rest, and I knew something needed to be fixed.

I brought out the Veracity and starting taking it apart to see just why it decided to jam this time.

As I worked, mapping out the new details of the upgraded pistol in my hand I thought back to the humans.

They were so young and they were about to be dragged into a war they never knew. It wasn't fair, but then again, I've heard similar stories of such things back home. It wasn't uncommon to be thrust into something you had no intentions of meddling in.

I guess life can be unfair...just like it was for Cliffjumper.

But something nagged at the back of my helm about that…

...Wasn't the Nemesis cloaked?

Didn't that mean life signals couldn't be detected on it?

Something is telling me things aren't adding up...and it would be answered tomorrow...